Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Something is wrong with FPL nuclear at Turkey Point: time for whistleblowers to speak up … by gimleteye

If you are a disgruntled voter, self-described independent or a member of an amorphous Tea Party, you most likely believe that our societal problems stem from government. Here is a brief report how failures of our democratic institutions do not happen by accident: they happen by design.

When government fails, who benefits most? Corporations. And corporations that profit most from government-designed-to-fail are the leviathans involved in the production and distribution of energy.

The last two days I've written about the failure of the cooling canals at FPL's Turkey Point nuclear units three and four. Multiple levels of governmental supervision of FPL have failed, because the corporation exerts extreme pressure at each and every point of contact with government.

Nuclear power is clean and efficient. It is also highly dangerous and toxic. When mistakes occur, the consequences last for hundreds of lifetimes. No amount of lawyering can change that immutable reality.

FPL, in its constant marketing blitz to consumers and the public, touts its safety record at Turkey Point. This, despite lapses that draw the attention of regulators and quickly fade from public view. The corporation also makes claims for benign environmental sustainability -- building wind mills and solar farms -- and even at Turkey Point FPL constantly points to endangered species like the American crocodile that nest on its property.

But the reality of the failed cooling canal system at the Turkey Point cooling canal can't be papered over. To be clear: I am not against nuclear power. I am for corporate responsibility. What is happening in the cooling canal system at Turkey Point and in governmental agencies, at the behest of FPL, is the height of corporate irresponsibility.

The Turkey Point cooling canal system has been failing for many years. During this time, FPL has brushed aside concerns and criticism of government agencies -- especially those involving drinking water and waters protected by state and federal law including adjacent Biscayne National Park and the Everglades ecosystem. In serial agreements with the state of Florida, FPL guaranteed that the system would be a closed-loop, well protected and insulated cooling canal -- spanning nearly the distance from Key West to Havana and back -- that would protect drinking water and the outstanding waters of Florida and the adjacent Biscayne National Park.

This system doesn't work. It is failing. The government has been incapable of enforcing against the corporation on the failure of the cooling canal system -- a 168 mile radiator coil designed to disperse heat from the super-heated water after it is propelled from its cooling work -- , because of the corporation's influence in the state legislature, in the governor's office, and with the water management district's governing board.

What do legislators or political appointees know about nuclear engineering? Not much. That is no excuse for these leaders -- mostly conservative Republicans -- to mistrust their own government agency staff and scientists who do know, or, do understand the impacts.

On the second page of the two hundred thirty four page final order for certification of the state siting for FPL's two planned nuclear reactors at Turkey Point, the Governor Scott Florida Department of Environmental Protection writes, "In enacting the PPSA (Power Plant Siting Act), the Florida Legislature provided one, unified procedure for the certification of power plants and associated facilities. See § 403.502, Fla. Stat. (2013). The procedure is a comprehensive, coordinated review for obtaining state and local permits and approvals to build or modify power plants and power lines."

A "comprehensive, coordinated review" is a myth. What happens is a process that is dominated by utilities, funded by ratepayers, to suffocate the reasonable purposes of government to protect the public interest, health and welfare of citizens.

In the case of the failed cooling canals at Turkey Point, a science-based "comprehensive, coordinated review" would balance key points of public interest, including the fact of water scarcity in South Florida and legal claims for water allocation to serve both the economy and the environment, and review whether it is now time for FPL to decommission two aged nuclear reactors operating well past their manufacturer's original warranties.

Under the politicization of agencies, and especially now with a November election involving an unpopular incumbent governor, FPL holds a grip on the myth of "comprehensive, coordinated review". On the undue influence of FPL and its failed cooling canal system, it is time for some whistleblowers to shine light on a gnarly mess.

3 comments:

Anonymous
said...

A Whistleblower would require a person with fearless back bone and the where withal to weather the fallout and relentless blow back from the powerful affected.In other words, it's not going to be anybody expecting to retire on a pension, unfortunately.On top of that, the whistler would have to know to do so in absolute anonymity, tall order now a days.

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Jonathon Dunlop of Australia about the Miami Airport:"This is the most disorganized shambles of an airport that exists on this earth.''April 01, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment on Post__________________________________On "Colony Collapse Disorder":Anonymous said...I say lets wait till the last tree is going to be cut down, the last bit of oil used, the last lowland coastal areas flooded before we make any rash decisions that might effect the economy.April 21, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment_________________________________On Bee “Colony Collapse Disorder” being blamed on cell phones:Anonymous said...Hmmm. What are bees doing with cell phones, anyhow?April 20, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment_________________________________On South Florida Water Supply:Ron Littlepage said...Unfortunately, we know who would win when it comes to allowing development to run amok and it's not the wildlife.April 20, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment Post_________________________________Lesley Blackner said:In Florida, the sad reality is that government exists to serve the development machine, not the citizenry. That's why it's proper to say that in Florida we have government of the developer, by the developer and for the developer.April 22, 2007 Eye on Miami Post_________________________________On City of Miami and Miami Dade County giving $1,000,000 each to Jorge Perez’s Related Group (The Group's 2005 revenues were $3.25 billion.):"It makes as much sense as me donating half my paycheck to Warren Buffett.”May 6, 2007 Miami Herald Columnist Ana Menendez_________________________________On the FCAT Test:"'Florida is a serial mis-user of test scores.''Bob Schaeffer, director for Massachusetts-based FairTest.May 25, 2007 Miami Herald_________________________________Clifford Schulman (Greenberg Traurig Lobbyist):"This is the first time in 33 years that any one has accused me of fraud." June 28, 2007 Miami HeraldI say: hmm.__________________________________Max Rameau, Homeless Activist:"I respect Ron Book for his work with the Homeless Trust, but the Liberty City community and others have given broad support to this idea. I don't know that a big-time millionaire lobbyist can tell us what is best for Liberty City and the black community.'' July 28, 2007 Miami Herald__________________________________"After years of mismanagement under a board of political appointees and neighborhood activists, Miami-Dade County administrators have proposed a new way to run the troubled empowerment zone program. The plan: Bring in new political appointees and neighborhood activists."November 6, 2007 Miami Herald: Reporter Scott Hiaasen______________________________________"Saying "Greater Everglades" and "Northern Everglades" is not saying Everglades -- other places are deserving of being protected too, but there is only one Everglades. The main thing is to keep the 'Main Thing' the main thing -- which, lately, has not been the main thing." Bob Mooney - on Listserve "Everglades Commons"________________________________________"Does anyone in their right mind believe that Florida could conduct postal balloting without a major screw-up or scandal? Heavens, no! The whole country is keenly aware that our state is a sump hole of incompetence and corruption."Carl Hiaasen - March 16, 2008 Miami Herald_______________________________________On the Charter Review: "Commissioners want us to vote on their own pet changes, ideas the review team explicitly rejected. And, they're throwing their blatantly self-serving ballot questions at us at the same time. What a slap in the face to the charter review team — and to all of us!" Michael Lewis of Miami Today - April 10, 2008______________________________________On the Miami Dade County Commission:''Unfortunately, this is a commission that would build a cyanide factory next to a playground if you hired the right 12 lobbyists,'' Miami Lakes Councilman Michael Pizzi - May 14, 2008______________________________________"The days where we’re just building sprawl forever, those days are over. I think that Republicans, Democrats, everybody recognizes that that’s not a smart way to build communities." President Barack Obama in Fort Meyers - February 10, 2009______________________________________"So."Dick Cheney's response when told that two thirds of Americans did not support the war in Iraq. - Time Magazine 2008______________________________________"It seems like a bad idea can always find a home in the Florida Legislature." - Howard Simon - Executive Director of Florida ACLU - March 24, 2010

______________________________________Complete this sentence: South Florida really needs a..."Regional plan for controlled growth (before it becomes a concrete jungle similar to Houston), and a completely new set of elected officials that make decisions based on what's good for the future of South Florida instead of what's good for their wallets. - Jack McCabe, Real Estate expert who predicted the housing boom's end. - August 29, 2011 Miami Herald